Ocean heatwave likely killed 30,000 fish off Western Australia coast, government says
Ocean heatwave likely killed 30,000 fish off Western Australia coast, government says
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Environmentalists fear overheated water could bleach Ningaloo Reef as woman says swimming at local beach like taking ‘hot’ shower. A mass fish kill spanning 9km along Western Australia’s Pilbara coast was likely caused by an ongoing marine heatwave, authorities have said.
![[Fish washed up near Gnoorea Point on the Pilbara coast of Western Australia]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ab42a17ef52ef3bbe4eb2b709f3cb5d7b77dc4e5/0_0_3000_4000/master/3000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
An estimated 30,000 fish washed up earlier in January at beaches near Gnoorea Point, 50km south-west of Karratha. The WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) said it was still investigating the fish kill but believed it “likely that prolonged thermal stress due to the conditions is associated with the deaths”.
Nathan Harrison, an executive director at DPIRD, said the nearshore waters along the Pilbara coast were currently about 31C, which was 2-3C above normal for this time of year. “A warmer ocean off WA during 2024 has preconditioned a high marine heatwave risk scenario for the summer months when water temperatures naturally increase and peak,” he said in a statement.
Last week, DPIRD issued a strong (category 2) marine heatwave warning for WA’s north coast and Gascoyne bioregions. In the north coast, which takes in the Pilbara, sea surface temperatures were 4-5C above the long-term average. There are concerns that the overheated water will cause damage to Ningaloo reef, Exmouth Gulf and Shark Bay in the Gascoyne. Coral bleaching occurred at Ningaloo in 2022.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email. Mardudhunera woman Raelene Cooper, a Karratha resident and Murujuga traditional custodian, visited 40 Mile beach near Gnoorea on Wednesday and described the fish kill as upsetting. “There are still dead animals that have been washed up,” she said.
